Monday Morning Pick-Me-Up: Erik Blood's Gorgeous New Music Video

FRESH BLOOD

Sometimes music videos can transcend the realm promotional tools and lyric delivery devices to reach the level of artful short films. The new video for Erik Blood's "Chase the Clouds" does just that. Directed by Peter Edlund, the video employs stunningly crisp cinematography and Blood's moody, atmospheric tune to tell the story of forbidden summer love at a 1960s gay conversion camp. With precise and impactful imagery, the storytelling manages to be both heartbreaking and uplifting. "Chase the Clouds" delivers a truly moving piece of cinema, and it's hard to imagine the powerful clip won't go down as the best Seattle music video of the year.

A TRADITION (THANKFULLY) UNLIKE ANY OTHER

Golf superstar Jordan Spieth needs something to cheer him up after giving away the Masters yesterday thanks to a historically disastrous quadruple bogey on the 12th hole. A possible remedy? The Adult Swim Golf Classic. The 30 minute special pits 2013 Masters Champion Adam Scott against two-time major champion John Daily in a match play event. Wait, no. That's not it. It pits comedic actor Adam Scott (Parks and Rec, Party Down) against comedian Jon Daly (Kroll Show), playing as their namesakes (though "playing" may be giving them too much credit, as they give zero effort to accurately portray the actual golfers).

Important note: both actors really suck at golf. No, really. They're terrible. They'd kill for a quadruple bogey. The special makes no attempt to hide this, but in the spirit of humor, everyone from the golfers to the announcers play the whole thing straight. To make things even stranger, they shot and produced the whole thing to look like a pristine 1960s golf special (which makes no sense with the modern golfers). It manages to toe the line between blatant ridiculousness and subtle parody with plenty of silliness to go around. Go ahead and watch the free stream of The Adult Swim Golf Classic. You too, Jordan.

AMERICAN AMB-POMPADOUR

A few months ago, Conan O'Brien received a care package from a South Korean fan inviting him to come visit her country. So he did. Last Saturday, TBS aired Conan in Korea, a special documenting his trip. His adventures overseas include a failed Korean language lesson, a guest spot on a Korean soap opera, the making of a K-pop song and music video, and even a super brief trip across the boarder to North Korea with The Walking Dead's Steven Yeun.

HEY JULIE

Local record label Hardly Art beefed up its already stellar roster today by announcing it'll release the new the Julie Ruin album Hit Reset on July 8. Led by riot grrrl icon and former Bikini Kill frontwoman Kathleen Hanna, the Julie Ruin mixes her defiant punk vocal style with a melodic but still edgy indie rock instrumental palate. To mark the announcement, the group released a lyric video for Hit Reset's energetic first single "I Decide," which features Waxahatchee's Katie Crutchfield wandering the streets of Austin during SXSW.

OBLIGATORY STAR WARS TRAILER

Last week saw the release of the first trailer for the first spinoff Star Wars film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. I believe by law, I'm required to post it (even if I'm mildly bitter that the film washes away Kyle Katarn and another good chunk of the old Star Wars extended universe). Rogue One's story takes place immediately prior to A NewHope, as the Rebel Alliance seeks info on the Galactic Empire's new weapon (oh hey, it's the Death Star). Hopefully this turns out better than the last time Star Wars they tried to do prequels.